On the relationships among ranoid frogs: A review of the evidence

The purpose of this paper is to explore relationships among frogs that have been (variously) placed in the Ranoidea. Phylogenetic analyses were conduc ted on data sets including 10 morphological characters and sequences from p ortions of the 12S, 16S, and tRNA(val) mitochondrial genome. The resulting phylogenetic trees suggest that (1) the sooglossids are the sister group to all other microhyloid and ranoid frogs, (2) the Microhylidae may be the si ster group of the Hyperoliidae. (3) the Hyperoliidae as classically defined may be diphyletic, (4) Hemisus appears to be a microhylid. and (4) the man telline frogs may be clustered within the Rhacopholidae. Analysis shows tha t both morphological and molecular characters contain significant phylogene tic signal. Nonetheless, more morphological and molecular characters will b e necessary to resolve completely the relationships among the deep branches of the Ranoidea.